Decision Maker: Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: No
To seek approval to consult on the draft Core Strategy which forms part of the Local Development Framework, following consideration by the Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Discussion:
The Local and Regional Planning Manager introduced the report advising the committee that an earlier version had been due for consideration in July 2010 but that this had coincided with the announcement of the abolition of the South East Plan. The draft core strategy had since been refined and references to the South East Plan removed. Members were notified that the draft strategy did not contain proposals for new development other than at Lodge Hill but did have a range of features, detailed in paragraph 4.5 of the report, planned to shape Medway over the next 15 years.
Members raised the following questions and comments:
·
affordable housing – some Members commented that the levels
remained too low;
Officers responded that the figures were based on a commissioned
Strategic Housing Market Assessment and the recommendations
reflected that study.
·
additional jobs target by 2028 (paragraph 3.9, page 99 of the
agenda) how would the success of this be measured?
Officers agreed that a clear baseline should be included in the
strategy.
·
new coal power station at Kingsnorth (paragraph 5.28, page 117 of
the agenda) how robust was the strategy on waste heat?
Officers confirmed that they would consider whether the reference
to the re-use of waste heat could be strengthened.
·
Canterbury Street, Gillingham as a secondary shopping centre.
Officers advised that the Local Plan proposals showed four local
centres in Canterbury Street. It had all been assessed and it was
proposed that one area, relatively distance from Gillingham town
centre should be designated as a neighbourhood centre. This served
a significant residential area.
·
Strood station nearer to some parts of Rochester? How will the
council improve links from Strood across the river?
The importance of links across the river were recognised and would
be taken into account when detailed proposals come
forward.
· Bryant Road – should this be designated as a neighbourhood centre given its proximity to the High Street, Strood?
Is doing well compared to other local centres but is
close to the High Street. On balance, it is considered that it
should be designated subject to views being received as part of the
public consultation on the Core Strategy.
· housing type and tenure – (paragraph 6.26, page 149 of the agenda) small amount of executive-style accommodation. Members considered that this required further detail, as it could be very important in the future. There was too little suitable housing for executives in Medway and by choosing to live in other areas, this also took away their money from being spent in Medway;
Officers replied
that this could not be addressed through the draft core strategy
but sites could be designated in the forthcoming Allocations and
Development Management Policies development plan
document.
·
development sites in River ward totalled 6,300 new units but what
of the road infrastructure to cope with this large number of extra
vehicle movements?
Officers responded that the figures did include the un-developed
parts of St. Mary’s Island and Rochester Riverside which
already had planning permission. Other sites in central Chatham
were close to the retail area and rail station and could be
expected to have lower than average car ownership rates.
Decision:
The committee endorsed the Local Development Framework: draft core strategy and recommended it to Cabinet for approval to go out for public consultation (as set out in paragraph 4.7 of the report), together with the committee’s comments set out above.
Publication date: 08/10/2010
Date of decision: 29/09/2010
Decided at meeting: 29/09/2010 - Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Accompanying Documents: